Burglar-trap for safes.



No. 697,462. y Patented Apr. l5, |902.

M. ELMEB.

BURGLAR TRAP FDR SAFES.

(Application led Aug'. 9, 1901.)

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MARTIN ELMER, OF VANDYNE, WISCONSIN.

BURG LAR-TRAP FOR SAFES.

SPECIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,462, dated April 15,1902. Application filed August 9, 1901. Serial No. 71,497. (No modeh) To a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN ELMER, a citi` zen of the United States, residing at Vandyne, in the county of Fond du Lac, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burglar-Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Thisinvention relates to burglar-traps; and it has for its objects to provide a device of this nature in connection with a safe and having such a construction that while a person knowing of the existence of the trap can open the safe without being caught any other person will spring the trap and will be caught in it in an attemptto remove the money-box.

Further objects and advantages of the invention relate to specific points of construction of the device and will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a safe provided with a removable moneybox and equipped in accordance with the present invention, the section being taken in a horizontalplane and the money-box being in elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the trap, partly in section and partly in elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail section of the bolt with the key engaged therewith.

Referring now to the drawings, the safe comprises a main casting 5, which may be rectangular, as shown, or have any other general shape, and centrally of which is formed a recess 6,.which opens through one side or the front of the casting, this opening being closed by the lid or door 7 of a wooden casing 8,which completely incloses the casting. The recess of the safe is adapted to receive a money-box 9, which is equipped with a lock of anydesired style, it being understood also that the wooden door is provided with a hasp and lock or any other means for locking the door. To hold the `money-box from being withdrawn from the recess or cavity of the safe, a bolt 10 is provided, which is of iron or steel and is passed through an opening in the side of the casting and int-0 an alining opening in the corresponding side of the money-box, the bolt lying in a tubular casing 11 in the box and being held therein by means of a magnet 12 at the inner end thereof. Thus before the money-box can be Withdrawn the bolt must be removed. To remove the bolt, a key 13 is provided, which has a head 14E to enter a slot 15 in the end 'of the bolt, after which the tool may be rotated to cause the head to lie transversely of the slot, when by drawing the key outwardly the bolt will be drawn with it. rIlhere is thus required a key to withdraw the bolt before the moneybox can be removed.

The money-box is provided with ahandle 16, which is to be grasped when'the box is to be withdrawn from the recess, and this handle is carried by a plate 17, disposed Within a casing inside of the money-box, the handle being projected through a slot in the front wall of the box, so that the handle may be grasped and drawn forwardly to move the plate against the inner face of the front of the box, for a purpose to be presently explained. Against the rear face of the plate is fixed a casing, within which is a plunger 18, having a jaw 19, which is passed through a slot in the plate, so that itV may be moved into and out of engagement with the inner face of the handle, which forms a coperating jaw. To hold the jaw yieldably in engaged position, a helical spring 2O is provided and is disposed upon the plunger with one end against the jaw and the other end against the inner end of the casing. The plunger extends through an opening in the rear end of the cylinder, and pivoted thereto is a link 23, so-that when the plunger is drawn rearwardly against the tension of the spring to set the trap the link may be moved to lie sub stantially transversely of the end of the cylinder and hold the jaw in retracted position. To hold the link in this position, a latch 24 is provided and is pivoted in an opening in the upper portion of the plate 17, the rear end ot' this latch having a hook 25 for engagement with the link. When the handle is grasped and drawn forwardly, the plate 17 moves forwardly, and the beveled forward end of the latch-lever is pressed against the top of the slot in the front of the box, through which the handle projects, with the result IOO that the lever is tilted to cause the hook thereof to release the link and permit the jaw to move forwardly against the inner surface of the handle, thus catching the fingers of the person who has grasped the handle. The box is not drawn out at this time by reason of the bolt above referred to. In order that the box may be withdrawn without springing the trap, the handle has a slot 27 formed through it, through which the key may be passed and then turned laterally to lie with its head transversely of the slot. The box may be then drawn forwardly, the bolt having been previously Withdrawn, and the end of the key being engaged with the edge of the jaw it is prevented from springing forwardly.

When the trap is sprung and a burglar is caught, he is held securely owing to the weight of the safe and cannot escape.

It will be understood that in practice modiications of the specific construction shown may be made and that any suitable materials and proportions may be used for the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

That is claimed isL 1. In a safe, the combination with the main shell having a cavity, of an inner removable receptacle, removable means for holding the inner receptacle against removal, a handle for the inner receptacle movably mounted thereon, a spring-pressed jaw mounted for movement to clamp against the handle and having retaining means for holding it retracted, and connections between the handle and the retaining means for actuating the latter to release the spring-pressed jaw when the handle is moved with respect to the receptacle.

2. The combination with a receptacle of a trap including a movable handle, a jaw for movement to clamp against the handle, means for actuating the jaw, and a latch for holding the jaw retracted, said latch being constructed and arranged to release the jaw when the handle is moved with respect to the receptacle.

3. In a safe, the combination with the main shell having a cavity, of a receptacle removably disposed in the cavity, a removable bolt for retaining the receptacle, said receptacle having an opening in its front wall, a plate within the receptacle, a handle attached to the plate and passed outwardly through the opening, a spring-pressed jaw adapted to engage and exert a clamping action against the handle, and a latch-lever pivoted to the plate for holding the jaw retracted, said lever having a beveled portion for engagement with a wall of the slot of the receptacle to move it pivotally and release the jaw.

4. The combination with a receptacle having a movable handle, of a spring-pressed jaw constructed and arranged to engage the handle, and retaining means for holding the spring-pressed jaw retracted, said retaining means having connection with the handle for actuation thereby to release the sprin g-pressed jaw when the handle is moved.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN ELMER.

Witnesses:

JACOB ELMER, BENNIE ZWERFEL. 

